the reproach of thy widowhoodclearly refers to the period of the Exile when Zion regarded herself as cast off by Jehovah. The sense of the shame of thy youthis less obvious. Since the conception has some affinities with the striking allegory in Ezekiel 16 it is probable that the reference goes back to the origin of the nation (cf. Ezekiel 16:4-8); the reference being to the Egyptian oppression.

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